Big loss looms: Amenola poised to sign with Dolphins

Tuesday

According to the NFL Network, Danny Amendola is expected to sign with the Miami Dolphins when free agency officially begins on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

It looks like the Patriots will head into the 2018 season without a big piece of their offense

According to the NFL Network, Danny Amendola is expected to sign with the Miami Dolphins when free agency officially begins on Wednesday at 4 p.m. The 32-year-old slot receiver has shown to be a vital piece of the Patriots' offense and the loss could certainly be felt next season.

Amendola is coming off a solid 2017 campaign in which he caught 61 passes for 659 yards and two touchdowns. Signed in 2013, his health has been up and down over the last five seasons in Foxboro, but you his playoff production has been consistently high. The 10-year veteran helped the Patriots in their two Super Bowl wins in the 2014 and 2016 seasons.

In 2014, he caught 11 passes for 137 yards and three touchdowns in three playoff games. This was after he caught only 27 passes for 200 yards and one touchdown in 16 regular-season games. In 2016, it was similar. After not finishing with a single game over 50 receiving yards or four receptions, Amendola caught eight passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots Super Bowl win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Amendola followed up his strong Super Bowl with a solid season last year. In 2017, he finished third on the Patriots in receptions. In Super Bowl LII, Amendola was once again on top of his game, catching eight passes for 152 yards. In three playoff games, he caught 26 passes for 348 yards and two scores. In the regular season, he also tied Rob Gronkowski for second on the team in third-down receptions. Along with the hole on offense, Amendola was also the team’s most dependable punt returner.

Losing Amendola, even with the receiver turning 33 next season, will be tough. The Patriots currently have plenty of questions when it comes to their receiver corps. On paper, they have several able players in Julian Edelman, Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell, Kenny Britt and Phillip Dorsett. They also have a couple of unknowns in Riley McCarron and Cody Hollister. There are, however, injury concerns with Edelman, coming off ACL surgery, and Mitchell, who missed last season due to a knee injury.

Then there’s the long-term depth issue. Cooks, Hogan, Britt and Dorsett all enter 2018 on the final year of their deals. They’ll be unrestricted free agents next offseason. Edelman and Mitchell are only signed through the 2019 season.

If the Patriots decide to stick with their current players, Hogan could play more in the slot, as can Edelman. In the event the Patriots want to get some long-term depth at the position, the 2018 NFL Draft may be the best way to go.

When it comes to filling the punt returner position, two options include Cyrus Jones and Edelman. Of course, both players are coming off ACL surgeries.

It’s unlikely that Amendola will be the only player to depart this offseason.

As soon as the NFL’s legal tampering period started on Monday, Nate Solder quickly become one of the hottest free agents. The top available tackle on the open market, it was reported that the Houston Texans, Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns (according to NBC Sports Boston and Pro Football Talk) were involved early. By Monday, the price tag was high enough that the Broncos bowed out.

Running back Dion Lewis also had several suitors on Monday. Besides New England, Lewis is also reportedly drawing interest from Miami, the New York Jets and Giants, Houston, Indianapolis and San Francisco, according to Pro Football Talk.

The same goes for Malcolm Butler. The cornerback reportedly had interest from the Detroit Lions, Texans, New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders, according to NBC Sports Boston. Butler isn’t expected to be back in Foxboro.

The Providence Journal also learned that Marquis Flowers also had a handful of NFL teams bidding for his services. And tackle Cameron Fleming is expected to have a very strong free agent market.

According to Mass Live, the Patriots are also showing interest in bringing back James Harrison, and the team is expected to re-sign Matthew Slater, according to the Boston Herald.

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